Radio

Communications
J. C. Sprott
Department of Physics
University of Wisconsin -
Madison

Presented to
Physics 208
on April 6, 2006

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/lectures.htm
 Outline

Properties of EM Waves

Choice of Frequencies

Radio Wave Production

Radio Wave Propagation

Radio Wave Reception

Television

Radar
 Properties of EM Waves
E

Transverse
B

Propagates in Vacuum


Any Frequency Possible


Frequency X Wavelength = c


c = 3x108 m/s (in vacuum)
Transverse EM Wave
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Choice of Frequencies

Lower Limit (~105 Hz, 3 km)
 Bandwidth (data rate)
 Antenna size
 Project ELF

Upper Limit (~109 Hz, 30 cm)
 Propagation - line of sight
 Sources and Detectors
 Radar / Microwaves
 Radio Wave Production

Transmitter
 Spectral purity (min interference)
 Power level (W to kW)

Antenna
 Size (~ wavelength)
 Types
 Polarization

Modulator
 CW, AM, FM, SSB, TV, Digital
Dipole Antenna
Types of Modulation
 Radio Wave Propagation

Diffraction versus Line-of-Sight
 Low Frequency / High Frequency

Role of Ionosphere
 MUF (f = 9n1/2, n in particles/m3)
 Day/Night Variation (Skip)
 Sunspots (11-year Cycle)
 Magnetic Storms
 Multihop Propagation
 Long-Delayed Echoes (?)
Ionosphere

Ionosphere
Density versus Height
 Role of the Ionosphere
100 MHz

10 MHz

1 MHz

Earth
Annual Sunspot Numbers
 Radio Wave Reception

Antenna
 Reciprocity Theorem
 Size (Practical Limits)

Receiver
 Superhetrodyne
 IF, AGC, AFC

Demodulator (Detector)

Stereo (Subcarrier - sum/difference)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Superhetrodyne Receiver
Demodulation
 Television

50-890 MHz (6 MHz Channels)

FM Audio, SSB Video

525 Lines @ 30 Frames / second

Interlacing (Alternating Lines)

Synch Pulses

Luminance / Chrominance

High-Definition TV (HDTV)

Cable versus On-Air
 Radar


Pulsed (Air Traffic Control)


Doppler (Police)


Microwave Ovens (2.45 GHz / 12

cm wavelength)


Weather Radar